Thursday, May 26, 2005

Operation Tennessee WaltzFour Tennessee Legislators came to work on Capitol Hill in Nashville and left in handcuffs.

"It doesn't surprise me. It would be hard to believe that it was limited to one body (Ford)...that kind of conduct has no place around here." - Rep. Frank Buck, D-Dowelltown

The four were arrested after sponsoring a bill which would have allowed electronic recycling companies to contract with the state to dispose of surplus state computer equipment not claimed by school districts. Undercover agents posed as a company (E-Cycle Management, inc.) looking to benefit from crooked politicans. The lawmakers took the bait and began extorting money from the agents, even issuing death threats. The four are accused of violating the Hobbs Act which deals with extortion by the wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear. Ford is also accused of counts of attempting to intimidate a witness. He faces up to 40 years in prision.

Tennessee politicians have been busy working to tighten ethical rules, due to the exposure of Senator John Ford's unethical dealings with lobbyists and special interest groups. Senator John Ford's nephew, Rep. Harold Ford Jr. just announced that he's running for the Senate seat to be vacated by Bill Frist.